A GROUP of dancers say they have been pushed to the back of the queue after their Newport venue repeatedly cancelled their dances forcing them to go elsewhere.

More than 40 dancers aged between 60 and 85 have had to find another venue for their weekly dances following repeated cancellations at Newport’s Lysaght Institute over the past few months.

Dance leader Pam Jones was disappointed when her dances were repeatedly cancelled and was forced to seek another venue at the Whitehead Sports and Social Club in order to keep the dances consistent.

“I got involved with the Lysaght right when it was getting refurbished,” she said.

“I got on the committee to get my dances there, as everybody used to dance there.

“We are all pensioners, and right from the beginning I said that I wanted a Friday afternoon and a Sunday evening dance there, but there was no contract and they were cancelling my dances left, right and centre. Everybody is disappointed as it has a beautiful ballroom.

“Some of the dancers only go out once a week and look forward to the dance.”

Dancer David Wassall, 69 of Risca, is also disappointed by the outcome.

He said: “It is unfortunate that it is run by a business and not the council because as a business it is looking for money.

“But from my point of view it is for the community, but we pensioners have been pushed to the back of the queue.”

Alun Harries, social enterprise project manager with Linc Cymru, said: “The Lysaght Institute is at the heart of the local community, and we need to ensure that it’s accessible to as many people from the community who want to use it.

“On occasions, when we have a big event in the diary such as a wedding, some of our regular users have to move the time or date of their sessions. We are very sorry that the tea dance group has decided to move and we would be very happy to host them again.

The tea dances will now be held at Whiteheads from January 12, at 8pm.